[SOLVED] Windows deactivated itself after an absolute tsunami of technical disasters, product key nowhere on PC

[Fatalzo]

So the story begins in August 2020.
I thought I was clever and installed Ubuntu 20.04 to replace Windows on my prebuilt HP Z220 Workstation. The copy of windows WAS activated and WAS windows 10.

Then the disk died. So I installed Ubuntu again.

Long story short one day Ubuntu was suddenly incompatible with my PC (even though i did nothing) and half the motherboard was effectively unusable.

Installing Windows 10 fixed this but now it's deactivated .

This sounds like a me problem but I went to Ubuntu for various reasons, such as the fact that Windows was glitching my computer out, and it needed reinstalled. I didn't have a windows installer on hand by then, so I installed Ubuntu. This still might be a "me" problem though

 

[rgd1101]

still under warranty, contact hp for the key

 

[revodo]

Is there an option to refresh / force a recheck on the license in settings?

 

[Colif]

The copy of windows WAS activated and WAS windows 10.

any pc thats had win 10 on it should allow you to reinstall it. Putting Ubuntu on the drive should have no effect as the details of the activation are stored on Microsoft servers, or on motherboard, never on the storage drive.

storage drives die, it happens, so marrying the licence to a drive would just be evil.

if you have the key on the PC, you should contact Microsoft as they should have record of the activation. They might want an email address, They can fix activation from their end.

 

[punkncat]

You also have to install the exact same version of Windows for it to activate. For instance if you were on Home edition and installed Pro, etc.

 

[Fatalzo]

still under warranty, contact hp for the key

It's 10 years old, the warranty is long gone

You also have to install the exact same version of Windows for it to activate. For instance if you were on Home edition and installed Pro, etc.

I installed Home N, I think that's what it was before, or maybe it was just Home. If I was wrong, does it matter? The only difference I see is the N.

 

[kanewolf]

So the story begins in August 2020.
I thought I was clever and installed Ubuntu 20.04 to replace Windows on my prebuilt HP Z220 Workstation. The copy of windows WAS activated and WAS windows 10.

Then the disk died. So I installed Ubuntu again.

Long story short one day Ubuntu was suddenly incompatible with my PC (even though i did nothing) and half the motherboard was effectively unusable.

Installing Windows 10 fixed this but now it's deactivated .

This sounds like a me problem but I went to Ubuntu for various reasons, such as the fact that Windows was glitching my computer out, and it needed reinstalled. I didn't have a windows installer on hand by then, so I installed Ubuntu. This still might be a "me" problem though

It may be a problem with the version you installed. The original key should be in the BIOS. I don't know if a typical Windows install knows how to get to the key in the BIOS. There are utilities that can read it. Google for HP BIOS Windows Key

 

[punkncat]

I installed Home N, I think that's what it was before, or maybe it was just Home. If I was wrong, does it matter? The only difference I see is the N.

You also have to install the exact same version of Windows for it to activate. For instance if you were on Home edition and installed Pro, etc.

Yes, it matters.

 

[Colif]

“N” editions of Windows are available in Europe, and are missing a few media-related features. On Windows 10, they don’t include Windows Media Player, Groove Music, Movies & TV, Voice Recorder, or Skype.

What Is an "N" or "KN" Edition of Windows?

Microsoft distributes special "N" editions of Windows in Europe and "KN" editions of Windows in Korea.

www.howtogeek.com

They are different versions, so yeah. if you had Home before. Only way to fix is to reinstall right one